Simple Life + God and His People = Invaluable Treasures.

I was challenged today to consider: What are my most treasured memories? What I discovered was . . . they were life’s simple pleasures – times with God and His people.

From childhood:

Dad taking me sledding, ice-skating, and out to breakfast to eat blueberry pancakes, hot chocolate, and bacon on Saturdays (visiting his classroom was always fun, too)
My dad carrying me when I was tired
Getting up at midnight to eat sardines and crackers with my dad
My mom’s vivid imagination – desk forts, behind the couch secret hideouts, hidden places between sheets on the clothesline, searching for four leaf clovers and fairies
Dancing in the kitchen with my mom when spring flowers came up
A & W root beer stand – tiny mugs for kids and all of my family together in the car (drive-in days) sipping foamy root beer on hot summer nights
Reading books with my mom and our wonderful weekly visits to the library
Grandma showing me how to make shadow puppets on the walls of the attic gable just before sleep
Brass beds & springs that “bite” and laughing with grandma over it
Fans blowing cool air on hot days while Grandma and I drank iced-tea and played gin rummy on the living room floor
Chocolate sodas and cherry pancakes (not at the same time) – Grandma’s favorites
Grandma’s yellow convertible rides and adventures
Riding on the blue bus to church with neighbors
The smell of paste in kindergarten which meant craft time
Running barefoot through clovers (except when the bees stung)
The independence and freedom of riding a tricycle down the street

With my husband

Walks along the river path when we were dating
His pursuit of me when I was noncommittal, unsure, and afraid
The look in his eyes the day we married
His tender affection with the children
The way he cried when I was diagnosed with cancer
His daily sacrifices that I take so for granted
His steady, faithful love

With my children

The little sticks that told me I was pregnant
The days they were born
Rocking, singing, and sweet prayers before bed
Sarah as my “little nurse” when I was on bed rest with Taylor
Chelsey’s two-year-old arms around my neck as she claimed, “My Mommy” when she found out Taylor was on her way
Chelsey’s nightly request for me to sing “Baby Mine” - no other song would do
Taylor’s lamb laugh and her effervescent happiness
Family nights when all five of us sat on the couch together watching movies and eating popcorn
One day when I asked Taylor if she wanted to be home schooled and she said, “You decide, Mommy. You know what is best for me.”
Camping, family vacations, and National Parks with Nate and the girls
Backyard Bible clubs and Awana – Klosters and Gins
White water rafting trips and ATV trips with Nate, the girls, and Jamie
Graduation days (from kindergarten through college)
The weekend of Chelsey and Jamie’s first date, Jamie (now my son-in-law) helped Nate on a house project for eight hours. Wow! Now that is a future son-in-law!
The days each of my children (yes, each of them . . . not all at the same time J) told me that they one day wanted to be a missionary. (Chelsey at eight): “Mom, wouldn’t it be cool to go to Africa and stay there until everyone came to know Jesus?” Chelsey and Jamie planning their wedding: “Mom, what do you think about a mission trip to Africa for the honeymoon?” Sarah: “I want to go to China. I want to go to Kenya. NIU needs me, Mom.” Taylor: “Mom, I was accepted for the Word Race! 11 countries in 11 months!”
Long, deep conversations
Game nights

As a teacher

Lunches with my students individually and in small groups
The day one student came in at lunch time because she was sad, and to make herself feel better she sang hymns (yes, in the public schools)
The “Ah-ha” moments
Great classroom discussions
Students staying after school to “help” me
Former students who came back to visit
Letters from students/pictures from students – so many of them – LOVE
The “surprise” party my students gave me when I retired
The boundless hugs when I visit

Events

The evening when I walked the aisle (twelve years old) to say I wanted to be a follower of Christ – first in my family – not really knowing what to expect
The days my children decided to follow Christ
My wedding
The day I was hired for my first teaching job
The births of my children
Quiet times with God, over His Word, in my sunroom and on the deck
Knowing the deep love of my stepmom when she met me at the door, weeping, when I was diagnosed with cancer
The days my stepmom cared for me when I was sick – so many times!
The first time I had a Bible study published
The arrival of my first published book
Chelsey’s wedding